Only Nigerians with NIN Eligible for Subsidized N40,000 Rice, Says FG

The Federal Government has announced that only Nigerians with National Identification Numbers (NIN) will be allowed to purchase subsidized rice as part of efforts to tackle the high cost of food in the country.

Speaking at the flag-off event in Abuja on September 5, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, revealed that the sale of 30,000 metric tons of rice is aimed at reducing food insecurity.

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Kyari emphasized that the rice, priced at ₦40,000 per 50kg bag, will be distributed under a strict “one person, one bag” policy to prevent racketeering.

 Kyari, represented by President Bola Tinubu, highlighted that the measure is one of many government interventions to address Nigeria’s food crisis, blaming factors like COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change for rising food prices.

He said, “This food intervention is timely, considering the current challenges we face as citizens of this great nation. It aims to cushion the effect of high food costs and ensure wider reach and transparency.”

 Public servants and those with NIN will be eligible to purchase the rice through a verification process to ensure fairness.

The director of food and strategic reserves, Haruna Sule Abutu, added that citizens must provide their NIN or phone number to generate a Treasury receipt, which will be used to collect the rice at designated centers.